Cash-register



(No Model.)

M. S. SIMMONS SJ. R. NANGLE.

G. ANGUS,

CASH REGISTER.

Patented July 14, 1891.

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UNITED STATES CHARLES ANGUS, MARCUS S. SIMMONS, AND JOSEPH R. NANGL l,OF ALBANY,

PATENT ()FFICE.

NE YORK.

CASH-REGISTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 45 5,916, dated July14, 1891.

Application filed May 14, 1890.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, CHARLES ANGUS, MARoUs S. SIMMONS, and JosEPH R.NANGLE, citizens of the United States, residing at Albany, in the countyof Albany, State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Cash-Registers, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in cashindicators and registers; and it has for its object, among others, toprovide an improved device of this character which can be manufacturedat a minimum of cost, in which the parts are few in number, readilyassembled, and very positive and efficient in their operation. lVedispense with levers between the keys and the indicating-tablets,preserving a substantially direct vertical movement of the keys. \Veprovide a compact and light machine, most of the parts being capable ofbeing stamped out by dies or otherwise formed of sheet metal. e havedevised novel means for locking the keys when depressed for retainingthem in a depressed position until released by the inward movement ofthe cashdrawer, and we arrange for the automatic adding up of theamounts, disclose the same through an opening, provide for the return ofthe tapes upon which the amounts are shown to O at the end of each dayssales or at any time desired, and improve generally upon the priorconstructions as a whole.

Other objects and advantages of the in vention will hereinafter appear,and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by theappended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisspecification, and in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section through acash-indicator embodying our invention, the section being taken from thefront to the rear. Fig. 2 is a front view of a portion of the machinewith parts broken away and others in section to better disclose theinterior construction. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the retaining-pawlfor the ratchet-wheel. Fig. 4

is a like View of the actuating-pawl for said Serial No. 351,831.

(No model.)

ratchet. Fig. 5 is a face view of a tablet and its strip. Fig. 6 is arear view of one of the keys detached. Fig. 7 is a detail in frontelevation of the ratchet-wheel and tape-engaging wheel or disk.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates theease within which the operating parts are inclosed. It may be of anysuitable material and as fanciful in design as the tastes of the makeror purchaser may desire.

3 are the keys, there being thirty, preferably, in the complete machine;bntthis number may be varied at will without departing from theessential of or sacrificing the advantages of the other parts of theinvention.

These keys are arranged, preferably, in two the guide-bar 13 extendingtransversely of the machine, said guide-bar being provided along itsunder side with a strip B of rubber, felt, or other suitablenoise-deadening medium. Each key is slotted near its lower end, as shownat a, for a purpose hereinafter made apparent and at a distance abovethe guide-bar formed with a shoulder a, between which and the guide-baris confined a coiled or other spring A, the lower end of which isconfined, preferably, within a depression or cavity a formed in the saidguide-bar. The key above its slotted portion is provided with an elasticbumper a which is designed to come in contact with the under side of thestrip 13 when the key is in its elevated posi- ()0 tion, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2. The tendency of these springs is to normally keep thekeys elevated. They are compressed as the keys are depressed.

As above stated, the keys are arranged in 5 banks or rows, and thetablets are arranged to overlap, as is usual in this class of devices.Each key carries a tablet, which is provided with a tablet-strip G,either integral with or affixed to the tablet C in any suitable mannor,the said strip being of some flexible material-as, for instance,sheet-brassthe end of which opposite that adjacent to or connected withthe tablet being secured to the rear side of the keyas, for instance, bya suitable pin or rivet Z), as shown in Fig. 1, a lug or projection I)being preferably provided upon the rear side of the key for thispurpose, as shown in Fig. 5. This tablet-strip extends from itsconnection with the tablet in a vertical direction through suitableguides 0, extending transversely of the machine and through which thestrip has free play. The strip is then passed around the bottom of asubstantially semicircular strip D,which also extends transversely ofthe machine and at the front face has a substantially vertical portion,as shown in Fig. 1, the said strip preferably passing between the bottomof the curved guide and a metallic guide-plate D, curved to correspondwith the curvature of the strip D, as shown in said Fig. 1. A depressionof the key-lever compels the tabletstrip to travel through its guidesand projects the tablet vertically through its guides into an elevatedposition, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, where it is disclosedthrough a transparent cover 13". It will thus be seen that there are nolevers employed between the keys and the tablets and each key worksindependently of the others, so that, if desired, when one lever isdepressed any one or all of the others may be depressed withoutaffecting the one depressed, providing the drawer is not actuated. Thispart of the construction is simple, cheap, and in practice has provedmost efficient. The parts employed are few in number and not liable toget out of order.

E is the cash-drawer, adapted to be moved horizontally at the lowerfront end of the machine, and at its rear end is cut away, as shown ate, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

A spring E is arranged upon the inside of the case, attached to thebottom thereof, as shown in Fig. 1, and arranged to exert its force uponthe rear end of the drawer to give it an initial impulse when thelocking devices are removed.

E is a pawl pivoted to the cross-bar B and having at its free end a lipto engage a notch e on the drawer, as shown in Fig. 1, to hold thedrawer normally locked.

F is a shaft extending across the machine and journaled in suitablehearings in the side walls thereof. Projecting from this shaft andextending through the slots of the lower ends of the keys are therearwardly-extending pinsf, the inner ends of which are bent upward, asshown at 6 to prevent their being accidentally disengaged from theslots. This shaft carries a cam or eccentric F, which is arrangedbeneath the pawl E, as shown in Fig. 1, and when the key or any one ofthem is depressed the shaft F is rotated by the depression of the pin f,and the cam throws up the pawl,so as to release the end thereof fromei'igageinent with the notch of the cash-drawer and leaves the same freeto be thrown out,

and as the pawl is thus thrown up its free end engages the hammer-arm Fof the alarm F and rings the gong. This bell may be of any preferredform and is secured upon the interior of the case, as shown. Thecut-away portion 6 of the rear end of the drawer allows of the passageof the same by the lower ends of the keys, as will be readily understoodfrom Figs. 1 and 2.

Each key has above the shoulder a a slot A, in which is pivoted on atransverse pin a a downwardly-extending arm G, the lower end of which isarranged in the path of the cashdrawer, and which a short distance belowits pivot end is formed with anotch or shoulder a, which, as the key isdepressed, is designed to engage beneath the rearwardly-projccting ledgeb of the bar B and hold the key depressed. As the cash-drawer is pushedin its rear end comes in contact with the lower end of this arm G, andpushes it rearward until its notch is disengaged from the ledge of thebar B when the spring A forces the key upward to its normal position.

H is a shaft arranged transversely of the machine, preferably at a pointsubstantially below the strip D, as shown in Fig. 1, and on this shaftare a plurality of ratchet-wheels I and wheels J, provided withradial-pins j. The number of ratchet-wheels and of pinwheels is the sameas the number of keys employed.

Across the rear end of the machine there are journaled in suitablebrackets or other provisions the shafts K and L. On these shafts, inline with each other, are drums or rollers, both of which are springactuated, after the manner of spring-rollers of known construction, thespring of the upper one, however, being somewhat stronger than that ofthe other, for a purpose which will soon be made known, one on eachshaftifor each key, and around these drums are wound the tapes or handsM, which are provided with holes 011, which engage the pins j] on thewheels J, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. On these tapes or bands areprinted or otherwise affixed the amounts corresponding with the amounton the key. Thus, for instance, the tape or band corresponding with andactuated by the fivecent key is provided with os, the ten-cent keybandwith 10s, and so on.

Pivoted upon the pin within the slot A" of the key is a pawl N, which atits pivot end has an elongated slot at and at its other end a lug n,which embraces the ratchet-wheel and is adapted to engage a tooththereof to feed the wheel forward in the direction of the arrow in Fig.1 at each depression of the key. The elongated slot in the pawl N isprovided to compensate for the difference in distance of movement of thekey and pawl, providing a predetermined amount of free play of the saidpawl.

Depending from the plate D are brackets or lugs O, to which are pivotedgravity-pawls P,(shown in detail in Fi 3,) and which are de signed toengage the ratchet-wheels to prevent retrograde movement thereof.

The operation is as follows: At the beginning of a days sales all thebands or tapes are set at 0. As a sale is made the key corresponding tothe amount is depressed, which movement displays the tablet at theopening above through the medium of the mechanism above specified andthe operation of which it is not deemed necessary to repeat here. henthe key is depressed, the same is held locked in its depressed position,the drawer is released and propelled outward by the action of itsspring, and the ratchet-wheel carrying the tape or band corresponding tothe key is moved forward in the direction of the arrow one hole and theamount of the sale is shown on the said tape, and so on to the end ofthe days sales. The machine is provided with a removable or hingedportion or cover P, provided with a suitable look, as P, the key ofwhich is designed to be kept by the proprietor. WVhen it is desired toset the device with all the tapes at 0, all that is necessary to do isto pull upon thelever Q, the lower end of which is pivotally connected,as at q, with one end of the arm R, the other end of which is connectedwith the rock or cam shaft S, extending transversely of the machine justabove the lower ends of the pawls N, so that the rocking of said shaftwill depress said lower ends of the pawls and throw up the upper ends,and the upper ends, coming in contact with the retaining-pawls P,disengage them from the ratchet-wheelsavhen the spring of the upperroller, being the stronger, will wind up the tapes thereupon, when thedevice will be set for the next days operations. We prefer to arrangethe num bers on the tapes or bands in arithmetical progression, so thatthe amounts will be automatically added up, and thus effect a greatsaving of time, it being only necessary to add the sums of the varioustotals exhibited by the tapes or hands to ascertain the amount of thedays sales.

The above constitutes what we at present consider the preferable meansof carrying out our invention; but we do not wish to be understood asconfining ourselves to the exact details hereinbefore specified, as itis evident that various modifications in detail may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing theadvantages of the other parts.

The tablet-strip, instead of being of a single flexible piece, maysometimes be composed of a plurality of pieces connected together byflexible joints; but in all cases the two ends of the connection betweenthe key and indicater move in parallel vertical planes.

Where in the following claims we employ the term bendable stripconnection, as referring to the connection between the key andindicator, we wish to be understood as covering a connection which willpermit. of a required movement of the indicator by a direct push uponthe key without becoming limp like a rope, cord, or chain. Arope, cord,or chain would not serve our purpose.

\Vhat we claim as new is 1. The combination, in a cash-register, with avertically-movable direct-acting key and an indicator constructed tomove simultaneously in opposite directions in substantially parallelvertical planes, of a bendable strip connection between the two, as setforth.

2. The combination,in a cash-register, wit-h a vertically-movabledirect-acting key and an indicator constructed to move simultaneously inopposite directions in substantially the same vertical plane, of anunpivoted bendable strip connection between the two, as set forth.

3. The combination, with a vertically-movable key and anindicatorconstructed to move simultaneously in opposite directions insubstantially parallel vertical planes, of a bendable strip connectionbetween the two, having a portion curved, as set forth.

at. The combination, in a cash-register, with a vertically-movabledirect-acting key and an indicator constructed to move simultaneously inopposite directions in substantially the same vertical or parallelplanes, of a bendable strip unpivoted connection between the two, withone portion curved, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, in a eashregister, with a vertically-movabledirect-acting key and an indicator constructed to move simultaneously inopposite directions in substantially parallel vertical planes, of abendable strip connec tion between the two and a curved guide for aportion of said connection, as set forth.

6. The combination, in a cash-register, with a vertically-movabledirect-acting key and an indicator constructed to move simultaneously inopposite directions in substantially paral lel vertical planes, ofabendable strip connection between the two, with a curved portion and afixed curved guide for the curved portion, as set forth.

7. The combination, in a cash-register, with a vertically-movabledirect-acting key and an indicator constructed to move simultaneously inopposite directions in substantially parallel vertical planes, of asingle bendable strip connecting the two, as set forth.

8. The combination, in a cash-register, with a vertically-movabledirect-acting key and an indicator constructed to move simultaneously inopposite directions in substantially parallel vertical planes, of asingle flexible resilient piece connecting the two, as set forth.

0. The combination, in a cash-register, with a vertically-movabledirect-acting key and an indicator constructed to move simultaneously inopposite directions in substantially parallel vertical planes, of asingle flexible resilient piece connecting the two and having a portioncurved, as set forth.

10. The combination, in a cash-register,with a verticallyanovabledirect-acting key and an lel vertical planes, of a single bendable stripconnecting the two and having its opposite ends fixed to the key andindicator, respectively, as set forth.

12. The combination, in a cash-register, with a vertically-movabledirect-acting key and an indicator constructed to move simultaneously inopposite directions in substantially parallel vertical planes, of asingle bendable strip connection between the key and indicator,

, said connection being integral with the indicator, as set forth.

13. The combination, in a cash-register, with a vertically-movabledirect-acting key and an indicator constructed to move simultaneously inopposite directions in substantially parallel vertical planes, of asingle bendable strip connected directly with the key at one end and atthe other end to the indicator, as set forth.

14. The combination, in a cash-register, with a vertically-movabledirect-actin g key and an indicator constructed to move simultaneouslyin opposite directions in substantially parallel vertical planes, of asingle flexible piece connecting the two, being integral with theindicator and connected directly to the key, as set forth.

15. The combination, in a cash-register, of a vertically-reciprocativekey, a verticallyreciprocative indicator, said key and indicator beingconstructed and arranged to move together in opposite directions insubstantially-parallel planes, and a direct flexible bendable stripconnection between the two and of which the indicator forms apart, asset forth.

16. The combination, in a cash-register, of a vertically-reciprocativekey, a verticallyreciprocative indicator, said key and indicator beingconstructed and arranged to move together in opposite directions insubstantially parallel vertical planes, and a flexible bendable stripconnection between the two, one end attached directly to the key andmoving for aportion of its length in a curved path, substantially asspecified.

17. The combination, in a cash-register, with a vertically-reciprocativekey and a vertically-reciprocative indicator, said key and indicatorconstructed and arranged to move together in opposite directions insubstantially parallel planes, of a flexible bendable strip connectionbetween the two with a portion moving in a vertical line and a portionin a curved path, guides for the vertical portion, and a guide for thecurved portion, as set forth.

1S. The combination, with a vertically-reciprocative key and thecash-drawer, of a pawl for holding the drawer locked, and a deviceembracing a cam engaging said pawl actuated by the depression of a keyto release the pawl and cause it to sound an alarm, as set forth.

19. The con'1bination,,with a vertically-reciprocative key and acash-drawer, of a pivoted pawl engaging the drawer, and a camshaftactuated by the depression of a key to directly engage the pawl anddisengage it from the drawer, substantially as specified.

20. The combination, with a vertically-reciprocative direct-acting keyand the cashdrawer, of the bell, the pivoted pawl, and the transverseshaft carrying a cam arranged beneath the pawl and arranged to elevatethe same and sound the bell by the depression of the key, as set forth.

21. The combination, with the vertically-reciprocative direct-acting keyand the cashdrawer, of the pivoted pawl, the shaft, the cam thereonbeneath the pawl, and the finger on the shaft passed through a slot inthe key, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

he combination, with the vertically-rcciprocative direct-acting key, thecash-drawer,

and the pawl pivoted at one end, of the transverse shaft, the pawlthereon, and the finger on the shaft passed through a slot in the keyand having upturned end, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

23. The combination, with the keys slotted at their lower ends, thecash-drawer having a notch in its side wall, and the pivoted pawl havingits free end arranged to engage said notch, of the transverse shaft, thecam thereon beneath the pawl, and a plurality of pins carried by theshaft and passed through the slots of the keys, whereby the depressionof any key actuates the cam, as set forth.

24. The combination, with the vertieallyreciprocative key and theguide-bar through which the key passes, provided with a rearward ledge,of the pivoted arm carried by the key and having a notch to engage saidledge, substantially as described.

25. The combination, with a key and the guide-bar provided with a rearledge, of the arm pivoted on the key, havinga notch to engage said ledgeand its lower end extended into the path of the cash-drawer,substantially as specified.

26. The combination, with the key having slotted lower end extendedbelow the top edge of the cash-drawer, the transverse cam-shaft, and thefingers on the cam shaft passed through said slot, of the cash-drawerhaving its rear end cut away, as set forth.

27. The combination, with the ratchetwheels and the key, of the pawlscarried by the keys, the transverse rocking shaft arranged above thetails of the pawls and adapt- ITO ed to be depressed to disengage thepawls from the ratchet, the lever Q, and the arm R pivoted to the leverand connected to the rockshaft, substantially as set forth.

28. The combination, with the vertically-reciprocative key and theratchet-wheel, of the retaining-pawl, the pawl carried by a key andhaving a limited play thereon in the direction of the length of the saidpawl, with its free end beneath the retaining-pawl, and the rockshaftbearing upon the tail of the pawl beyond its connection with the key,substantially as specified.

29. The combination, with the key and the ratchet-wheel, of the pawlpivoted in a slot in the key and having an elongated slot and its freeend arranged beneath the retainingpawl, and the rock-shaft bearing uponthe tail of the pawl, and the lever Q, pivotally connected with the arm,which is connected with said rock-shaft, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

30. The combination, with the key and the ratchet-wheel, of the pawlpivoted to the key and having lug at its free end and the gravity-pawlpivoted above the first-mentioned pawl and extended across and above thesame, as set forth.

31. The combination, with the spring-rolland ratchet-wheel, and meansfor releasing the ratchet-wheel to allow the stronger roller to wind upthe tape thereon when desired.

In a cash-register, a system of Verticallyl'GfilplOCEttlVG keys andtablets, with a directpositive-aeting connection between the keys an dtablet-s, of independent key-locking mechanism and a simultaneousunlocking mechanism, substantially as specified.

3i. I11 a cash-register, the combination, with the tape-feed and thevertically-reciprocative direct-acting key arranged to actuate the same,and intermediate mechanism having a limited play as the key descends, ofa tapefeed-locking device independent of the feeding' mechanism and ofthe key and constructed to simultaneously return all of the tapes to O,substantially as specified.

35. The combination,with the case, the tapefeed, and thevertically-reciprocative directacting, key arranged to actuate the same,and intermediate mechanism having; a limited play as the key descends,of a tape-feed-loeking pawl arranged within the case and independent ofthe feed and key, as set forth.

36. The combination, with a key and an indicator, of a bendable stripconnection between the two, substantially as described.

37. The combination, with a key and an indicator, of an unpivotedbendable strip connection between the two, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we affix oursig'natures in presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES ANGU S. MARCUS S. SIMMONS. JOSEPH R. NANGLE. Witnesses:

THos. H. IIAM, THoMAs MoNABn.

